OVERRATED: 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'

OVERRATED: 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'

WETA Digital, Associated Press

Though this film earned many critical raves, there's definitely some grade inflation here courtesy of standards that dipped far below sea level after a relentless onslaught of cynical summer dreck. Sure, it was fun to root for Andy Serkis' amazing CG Caesar threading the cinematic needle to Charlton Heston, but that's partly because the human element (except John Lithgow) was such a blank slate. Is it fall yet?

Though this film earned many critical raves, there's definitely some grade inflation here courtesy of standards that dipped far below sea level after a relentless onslaught of cynical summer dreck. Sure, it was fun to root for Andy Serkis' amazing CG Caesar threading the cinematic needle to Charlton Heston, but that's partly because the human element (except John Lithgow) was such a blank slate. Is it fall yet? (WETA Digital, Associated Press)

Though this film earned many critical raves, there's definitely some grade inflation here courtesy of standards that dipped far below sea level after a relentless onslaught of cynical summer dreck. Sure, it was fun to root for Andy Serkis' amazing CG Caesar threading the cinematic needle to Charlton Heston, but that's partly because the human element (except John Lithgow) was such a blank slate. Is it fall yet?